Drain issues

katebl

Hi all, we have a concrete gulley outside our house where the bath and kitchen sink drain into and it's filling up and at times overflowing (especially when the washing machine has been used) - I would happily scoop the water out and lift the drain grate except there appears to be some concrete - like a ledge - over it so I can't lift the grate. Would it be a good idea to try and chip away at this as I guess even if I can't clean out any mess myself any professional who does it would need the concrete away anyway? Just wanted to make sure there wasn't a reason for it there... (I would obviously make sure anything I removed didn't fall down the drain...!)

JohnB47

katebl wrote: »

Hi all, we have a concrete gulley outside our house where the bath and kitchen sink drain into and it's filling up and at times overflowing (especially when the washing machine has been used) - I would happily scoop the water out and lift the drain grate except there appears to be some concrete - like a ledge - over it so I can't lift the grate. Would it be a good idea to try and chip away at this as I guess even if I can't clean out any mess myself any professional who does it would need the concrete away anyway? Just wanted to make sure there wasn't a reason for it there... (I would obviously make sure anything I removed didn't fall down the drain...!)

You probably won't get any useful replies unless you can describe how that ledge has got there. Is it part of a paving slab, or part of a concrete path or patio? A cover of some sort? A picture would be good. I can't understand why a piece of fixed concrete might have been placed so as to stop you removing the grate or getting at the gulley.

The blockage could be further down the system of course. Is there an inspection chamber nearby that you could have a look in?

katebl

Hi John - it's just like a lump of concrete basically which is stopping me lifting the grate - it doesn't look like it was meant to be there put it that way. The gulley is directly underneath the kitchen window but the garden is decked so I can't easily find any sort of inspection chamber... The gulley was filled with like a grey mess earlier, like some sort of sludge, so I was hoping to be able to get in there and scoop it out in case that's what's caused the issue, if it doesn't fix it then I guess I'll need a professional!

macman

The concrete has probably been replaced at some point, and whoever did it failed to ensure that the grating could be lifted. You could jetwash it and that might clear the worst of the sludge. Otherwise you'll have to just chip away enough around it to release the grating.
Not a job for which you need any kind of professional.